New Great Lakes Mega Meet Scrapbook Convention Class Images

No new classes - but we do have some new class images up - and oh my goodness! If you love layout classes - you will love these layouts. The images I just got are from Fiskars + Heidi Grace and Fiskars + Cloud 9. If you've been waiting to register for one of these classes because you couldn't see the projects.... wait no more!!


The first two layouts are from the Fiskars + Cloud 9 Class - "Baby Be Mine" - for just $17 - you'll make both these layouts for your favorite Girl or Boy! I Just love how these will work for both babies, and older kids!

The second two layouts are from the Fiskars + Heidi Grace Class "A Walk Through Heidi's Neighborhood". I'm SO Glad they sent these images - because I didn't have a good concept of the class from the title and description - but aren't these layouts YUMMY? This class is just $17 too!!! Snap these classes up before they are gone!! There's still time to add classes to your schedule - simply log in and purchase tickets - it will add them to your schedule!

One week until the March Retreat - I'm getting excited!! Donna Retreat Details are so, so, so close - just a few more loose ends for us to tie up!! Still room in the June Retreat - AND we just added an "Early Bird" option to get another ENTIRE DAY of scrapping, with optional classes!! Check out our retreats for info!

Donna Downey Weekend Scrapbook Retreat details coming soon!

We know you're anxious! And in the middle of all this Mega Meet work, we're finalizing some of our Donna plans and are getting dangerously close to announcing all the details and opening registration!

Just to give you some idea - we've selected the classes she'll be teaching - some ALL NEW ones that look really fun! We've selected the location (though we haven't finalized the contract yet, so mum's the word!). We're picking out some FABULOUS meals and snacks that will keep you fueled for the weekend and we've already got lots of goodies and extras planned - including an ALL NEW themed Crop Party that will be to die for!

We hope you're as excited about Donna as we are! Stay tuned - we promise it will be worth the wait!

Cara

Scrapbook Shopping in Metro Detroit

Tara and I had the privilege of visiting 18 Metro Detroit Scrapbook Stores (and 1 Art Store) on Monday and Thursday of this week! We were out delivering registration brochures to area stores.... and doing our part to support the Scrapbook Industry. (e.g. I shopped. Tara kept finding things I HAD to have. She shopped too - but I shopped more.)

We have some REALLY great stores out there!! Each one is so different, with different strengths and different focuses. Some stores were clearly into "altered" and others into "traditional". We found cool stuff that even WE hadn't seen before! (um... did I mention I shopped?)

We did the "North and East" stores on Monday - departing from my house.

-- Start Monday Tour --

Luv 2 Scrapbook - well, they recently changed their hours and don't open until 11am - except we didn't know that, and showed up at 10:05 - so we didn't get to visit them... yet - but geographically they are closest to my house - so I'm sure I'll be in to visit.

Simple Pleasures - We just visited Denise at the Troy store - they split up the delivery between the two stores. SPST always does a great job of pulling together products for whatever the next holiday is - so they had a great display for St. Patty's Day pages and projects right up front! We also liked the new clearance table (who doesn't like a deal?)

Picture This... Scrapbooking & More - How fun is this store - it's the northernmost store we visited - just south of Romeo. It's in "Frontiertown" - a quaint shopping center where the floorboards creak! It's a bright cheery store, with a good product mix! We eyed the flowers, but I showed restraint. Then we found the new Sweetwater wooden buttons with the stickers for the centers. (u guessed it - I shopped)

Write Stuff - bummer for us - they are closed on Mondays - so we mailed them their stuff. Lori has been a long time friend of the GLMM - so we're sorry we missed her!

Scrapbook Emporium - LOTS of selection - easy to find stuff - friendly staff! HUGE crop room! I hadn't seen the new Scrapbook Trends or their sister publication "Cards" yet - um... yep - I bought them.

Little Scrapbox - one of two new stores on the scene since last year. This one is not in a retail area - actually in a warehouse - but when you get inside - forget warehouse - it's bright & cheery! Another HUGE crop room! (I think I bought some Heidi Grace chipboard sticker things here)

Scrapbook Cafe - a cute little store - used to be the Scrapbook Nook. They've expanded their crop area since we stopped in last year!

(Then we took a lunch break for yummy salads at Sheild's Pizza!!! YUMMMM)

Unique Expressions *I couldn't find a website* - oh did we love the class samples here. Lot's of cool, different ideas. Clearly it was the instructor in the store that day - and she was proud of her creations! (She had every right to be!) Tara and I plotting to maybe take a class there! (oh, yeah - I bought a bunch of 7 Gypsies stuff here!)

Paper Tales - lots of yummy samples here too - and the only place we found all the new MAYA ROAD stuff. (We LOVE Maya Road) You guessed it - we bought some. Got to meet Cass's beautiful granddaughter, that is so often featured on their blog!

-- End Monday Tour --

On Thursday - we did the "South and West" stores - departing from Tara's house.

-- Start Thursday Tour --

Crafts 2000 - that's right - we headed all the way down to Monroe to start our day! Crafts 2000 is so much more than just a scrapbook store! I bought a gift for my mom there - can't say too much because I think she reads this! (uh-oh - shopping again already)

Sisters Scrapbooking - also in Monroe - a smaller store - but with a good product mix! We enjoyed visiting with Carolyn (oh - and shopping!)

Then up I 275 to Canton to visit Memory Lane Scrapbooking! *I couldn't find a website* Vicki is so attentive to her customers!

Scrapbook Studio *I couldn't find a website* - this store gets our "most improved" award!! Last year this store was an "ok" scrapbook store - this year - its fabulous! Mary has made some great improvements in product lines, organization, offering bulk products (um - yep - I shopped!) and more. If you haven't been there in a while - check it out - it's changed a lot!!

Scrappin' and Stampin' - The Grandmama of Independent Scrapbook Stores in Metro Detroit - I used to drive all the way out to her store to shop when I first started scrapbooking - because she was the ONLY one!! Barb is moving the store to downtown Farmington! We can't wait to see the new location! Being weeks away from a move - the current location is in a bit of disarray - but the deals to be found while they are clearancing out as much as possible (so as not to move it!) are amazing!!

(We took a brief stop for lunch at Mr. Pita)

Stampeddler PLUS Memories - I just love the FEELING of this store. It's in an old church building, and the atmosphere is just amazing! If you are a rubber stamper - this is the place to go - the biggest selection of stamps we saw in any store... plus I found a bejewler (don't laugh - I have figure skaters - this tool will HEAT SET stones on their dresses - NO MORE GLUE!!) Lot's of great scrapping stuff too - not just stamps!

Scrapbooker's Inc. - Marget's store is always fun and cheery - great samples - fun product lines - some stuff we'd never seen before (and look at how many stores we'd already been to!!) I'm sure you won't be surprised when I tell you I shopped.

Scrapbook Zone - Kevin & Kelley's store is always fun - always has new stuff - great clearance section - great deals!! Just picked their new design team recently - our very own Cara was selected for Honorable Mention - and will be a guest designer in August!!

Scrappy Chic - OK - the closer and closer we got to this store - I kept saying to Tara - "this has got to be really close to where the skate shop where I buy the girls' skates used to be." It IS the EXACT place where Burley's Skate Shop - now Rainbo Sports - used to be (it's now just a mile south) So, that was Deja Vu!! This is another very new store!! Nice selection, and a HUGE crop room! .... do you know what I'm going to say?.... I shopped.

Dick Blick Art Materials - They have been on our list, and put up posters and put out flyers for us, and frankly - we were curious who or what this "Dick Blick" might be. Well, it's really an artist's paradise. If you are into canvas, or paint, or altering - you will probably find some really cool stuff that a scrapbook store wouldn't typically carry. Not much scrapbook stuff though - so only put it on your list of places to hit if you are looking for true artist's supplies!

-- End Thursday Tour --

There are plenty of other great Metro Detroit Stores that we didn't get to on our tour - but I thought you might enjoy hearing about our days - and maybe you can take your own tour!!

We used a cool new feature on Mapquest, that lets you add stops to your route, to map out our visits - I highly recommend it!

My Sincere Apologies

It seems that every year, about this time of night, after the rush that is registration calms, I have to post an apology. I hate that!! I want everyone to get in the first time they try, get all the classes they want, and live happily ever after!!

It seems that when you fix all the problems from the prior year, your server company conspires against you to create NEW problems.

The good news is - the software performed superbly. No glitches or problems with the software. The problem was getting to it. "Service Unavailable" messages were our nemesis this evening.

Traffic has slowed. At this time, there are still sneak peek & crop tickets availalbe, and only a very few classes are sold out - so try again!

When I wasn't feeling nauseous, I did enjoy RENT this evening. I spent lots of time worrying about all of you - and about John and Tara.

Thank you for your patience, and I'm sorry that for so many of you this was a frustrating evening.

BREAKING NEWS

Oh My Gosh - talk about cutting it close! Epson America just called, and we're adding four Digital Scrapbook classes in the small Hall A Classroom (what was bag check last year)!

We're still getting the info in - but it will be up before Class Registration opens. What timing! They had no idea that they were calling 2 hours before registration opens - and also no idea that I had been saving that small classroom for them!

Hang on... it's going to be a wild ride!!!

Registration Opens Tonight

Which means I'm operating on very little sleep!


Actually, John has made some great improvements to the registration routine, I think that you will find it easier to understand, and more intuitive than in the past - and best of all - if you lose your connection - as long as you log back in within 15 minutes - all of your selections are SAVED!! This has me really excited - and nervous all at once - as tonight's opening is the first full scale roll out of the new functionality!


We added two new classes in the eleventh hour here before registration opened - and I am so excited about both of them. Niki Meiners is an independent instructor sponsored by Frances Meyer. She attended the GLMM last year, and assisted in Becky Thompson's classes, and has taught all over for several manufacturers. Her classes are:


Mini-Book for Dad (which is good for any adult male in your life). I like this class because it's the only one like it in our schedule - the only project targeted towards Father's Day, or the men in our lives! (We have several "boy" classes - but this is the only "man" class I can think of!) Niki wants everyone to know that she is waiting for BRAND NEW papers for this project, so the photo is a good representation, but the actual project will be "stellar" according to Niki (and I saw the papers and I agree!)


Her other class is the Hostess Gift Set - I just LOVE the Hostess Gift Set. Niki sent me the photo to ask if I thought it would go over well, and I was just drooling over it! You will walk out of class ready for the next time you are invited to someone's home for dinner - just add the bottle of wine, or sparkling cider!! I just love the yummy Frances Meyer paper - reminds me of India!

So, in other news - I will actually not be home when registration opens!! So be nice to John and Tara if you have troubles!! I inadvertantly bought tickets to see RENT with my daughter tonight - they were a birthday present I was trying to keep secret - and I apparantly kept them secret from myself when we selected the date and time to open registration. MUCH THANKS to John and Tara for being VERY understanding about this! We are looking forward to a wonderful time tonight... and I'm hoping that registration goes without a hitch, and that everyone gets all the classes that they want!

Does Anybody Miss Me When I Don't Post?

Is anybody out there?



It's so hard to tell! This is a strange medium this blogging thing!



Well, it's been a busy week around here! After I finally got the class schedule up, it was time to head into a busy weekend for our family - this has nothing to do with the GLMM - but my girls both competed at the Great Oaks Figure Skating competition last weekend - which pretty much consumed our entire weekend! The girls skated great... you can see their results here if you are interested! The picture is of the two of them on the podium with their respective Silver Medals in their compulsory flights!





This week has just been a long week of crossing details off of the to do list, and dreaming up more things to put on said to do list! The emails and posts I've seen appear favorable about the class schedule - I know I'm excited about it! One of the things that has happened this week is the addition of 3 more classes to the schedule! 1 is a Journaling Class being taught by Debbie Haas, the author of "Chicken Soup for the Scrapbooker's Soul"! That class is now up on the schedule, and is only available on Thursday and Friday afternoons, and has very limited seating - the class also includes a signed copy of the CSFTSS book! More info on that to be posted on the website soon!! The other 2 classes aren't up yet - we're still waiting for the final paperwork, but Niki Meiners, an independant instructor is teaching some classes for Frances Meyer... which are going to be some very cool classes! These will be finalized and posted before registration opens next Wednesday!


The paper registration brochures were all delivered to me this week, and they are currently all sorted for delivery to area stores! We will either mail or hand deliver these next week. You should start seeing them in the stores after registration opens online on the 7th at 7pm!

The weather was cold and rainy yesterday - and windy and snowy today! Not a pretty week weather wise! This weekend, we celebrate my oldest daughter recieving the sacrament of Confirmation on Saturday afternoon, followed by a celebration of her 14th birthday!

More later....